Easel



(No Model.)

o. E. FOUNTAIN,

I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented Deo. 5, 1893.

TNI rumcnuu. Lnuoeluhlm coMPANv.

l /NvENToH l A TTOHNE YS.

(No Model.)

` A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'. C. E. FOUNTAIN.

BASEL..

Patented Dec.V 5, 1893.

Arron/VE Ys.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. FOUNTAIN, OF PORT. TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON.

EASEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,250, dated December5, 1893.

Application filed January 3l, 1893. Serial No. 460,286.v (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: Y

Be itknown that I, CHARLES EDWARD FOUN- TAIN, of Port Townsend, in thecounty of Jefferson and State of Washington, have invented a new andImproved Easel, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to improvements in easels, such as are used byartists in drawing and painting; and the object of my'invention is toproduce an extremely light, strong and simpleeasel in which thedrawingboard may be easily and quickly placed and held at any desiredangle, which is also adapted to have the drawing-board reversed whennecessary, which is provided with means for quickly adjusting thedrawing-board so as to bring it at any necessary height, which isprovided with swinging tables adapted to hold water, paint, brushes,dac., these being arranged on opposite ends of the easel so as to beconveniently used by either a right-handed or a left-handed person,which is provided with means for fastening the tables beneath thedrawing board when the easelis to be packed away, which may be packed ina very small space, and which in general is peculiarly adapted to allthe needs of an artist when at work.

To this end my invention consists in certain features of constructionand combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described andclaimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures of reference indicatecorresponding parts iu all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the easel embodying my invention,showing one of the swinging tables in position for use. Fig. 2 is an endview of the easel with the position of one of the swinging tablesindicated by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the easel showingboth swinging tables in position for use. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailsectional view of the mechanism for adjusting the easel both verticallyand as to its inclination. Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 inFig. 4; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view on the line6-6 in Fig. 1, showing in detail one of the clasps for fastening thetables beneath the drawing-board.

The easel is provided with end standards 'fastened to the outer ends ofthe hubs.

10, which at the bottom are provided with suitable feet 11 and thestandards are braced by braces 12 extending from the feet to thestandards. The standards are connected by a cross piece 13 which ispreferably secured to the standards by means of mortise and tenonjoints, and the cross piece and standards are connected and strengthenedby braces 14, shown clearly in Fig. yl. Above the cross piece 13 is thedrawing-board 15 which is made up of narrow pieces glued-together so asto make it light and prevent it from warping, and the board is bound bythe side and end strips 16 which form the edges of lthe board and areInitered together at the corners. The board has on its opposite longeredges flanges 16a, which are produced on opposite sides of the board sothat the board may be tipped over and either side used, the iiange ofthe side in use being placed so as to support the work. On the ends ofthe drawing-board are plates 17 in which are secured outwardlyprojecting studs or axles 18, these being arranged centrally on theboard so that the latter may turn on them, and the axles project intohubs 19, which hubs are held in a horizontal position and provided withvertical holes 20 through which the metallic posts 2l extend, theseposts being held in ring sockets 21 on the tops of the standards 10 andhaving on their outer edges notches 22 which receive the lower ends ofthe detents 23 and which support the drawing-board. The spring detents23 extend diagonally upward through the hubs 19. and their upper ends 24projectupward so as to serve as handles. The spring detents 23 are heldin engagement with the notches ofthe posts by springs 25 which are Thefastening screws 26 extend also through the detents 23, as shown in Fig.4, and the detents are slottedso as to move up and down on the screws.

It will be seen that by pulling upward on the detents they will bedetached from the notches ofthe posts and the hubs 19, and thedrawing-board will move downward but the spring detents will immediatelyliy back into the nearest notches, and in this way the height of theboard may be regulated. If the board is to be raised it and the detentsare IOO simply lifted and the spring detents will engage the notchesopposite which they happen to be.

0n each end of the drawing-board is an outwardly curved spring 27, theends of which are slotted, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, so asto slide on screws 28 by which the spring is held to the board, orrather to the plate 17 on the board. On the center of the spring is acircular rack 29 having teeth 29a on its outer end, and these teeth areadapted to engage the squared ends of a pin 30 which projects throughthe hub 19, and as the spring 27 presses the rack into constantengagement with the pin, the drawing-board is prevented from tilting.When the inclination of the board is to be changed, however, the springs27 are pressed inward, thus releasing the racks 29, and when the boardis brought to the desired inclination, the springs are released and theracks immediately iiy into engagement with the springs 30 and fasten theboard. This operation can be done practically at one movement, as whenthe springs are compressed the operator may at the same time tilt theboard.

In connection with the easel, small swinging tables 31 are used, thesebeing adapted to be arranged at each end of the easel and one or both ofthem may be used as desired. Each table is provided with a hole 32 inwhich a tumbler of water may be placed, in case the artist is usingWater-colors, and the board is also provided with grad uated holes 33 inwhich the handles of his brushes may be inserted. Each table is providedwith an arm 34; which, at one end, terminates in a crank 35 having areduced end 36 adapted to enter a hole inthe hub 19, as shown clearly inFigs. 1 and 4. It will be noticed that when the table is supported onthe hub, it will swing horizontally and may be brought readily into themost convenient position for use.

On the under side of the cross piece 13 are screw eyes 37, and when thetables 3l are not in use the cranks of the arms 34 may be inserted inthe eyes, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the tables will thushang edgewise beneath the drawing-board. To prevent their displacementswinging clasps 3S are used, one of which is shown in detailin Fig. 6,and these clasps or hasps are pivoted in the standards 10 and may beswung so as to bind the tables to the standards or so as to release thetables.

Then the easel is used one or both of the swinging tables is adjusted inone or both of the hubs 19, the board is brought to the desiredinclination, and it may then be used in the ordinary way. 1f desired thecanvas or paper on which the artist is working may be fastened to theboard and the board turned over and the other side used.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the easel is veryconvenient, that it may be readily adjusted, and that when not in use itmay be packed away in a compara tively small space.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. An easel, comprising opposite standards havingnotched posts at their upper ends, a drawing-board held to swing betweenthe posts, fastening devices to support the board in the notches of theposts, and means for fix'- ing the inclination ot the board,substantially as described.

2. An easel, comprising opposite, connected standards having notchedposts at their upper ends, hubs held to slide vertically on thestandards, a drawing-board pivoted in the hubs and held to swing betweenthe posts, fastening devices to fix the position of the hubs on theposts, and a second set of fastening devices to secure the drawing-boardat various angles, substantially as described.

3. An easel, comprising a supporting stand having oppositely arrangedposts thereon, and a swinging and vertically adjustable drawing-boardsupported on the posts and having longitudinal flanges at its edges, theiianges projecting from opposite sides of the board, substantially asdescribed.

f1. An easel, comprising opposite, connected standards, posts secured inthe upper ends of the standards, hubs supported on the posts andprovided with projecting pins, a drawing-board pivoted in the hubs, andspringpressed racks secured to the drawing-board and adapted to engagethe hub pins, substantially as described.

5. An easel, comprising opposite, connected standards, notched postssecured in the upper ends of the standards, hubs held to slidevertically on the posts, spring catches secured to the hubs and adaptedto engage the post notches, transverse pins secured in the hubs, adrawingboard pivoted in the hubs, and spring-pressed racks supported onthepivots of the drawing-board and adapted to engage the hub pins,substantially as described.

6. The combination with the drawing-board, its supporting standards, andthe perforated hubs in which the board is pivoted, of the swinging tablehaving a crank arm to enter the perfor-ations of the hubs, substantiallyas described.

7. The combination with the supporting stand, comprising oppositestandards connected by a cross bar and posts secured in the standards,of the swinging detachable table adapted to be secured at one end of thedrawing-board, and fastening devices to secure the table beneath thecross bar of the standard, substantially as described.

CHARLES E. FOUNTAIN.

Witnesses:

J. C. CHRISTIAN, W. F. RUPERT.

IOO

